Hi, guys, long time no post, but it's because I really haven't had any issues with my vehicle. Okay, I've got a 2001 regular cab F-150 with the 4.6 and the 8' box with 93,000 miles and some change for starters.

Okay, so the other day I noticed a small fist sized spot under my truck right where the bed (and muffler) starts on the passenger side of my truck. I thought nothing of it because it did not appear to be any type of oil or lubricant, and I simply attributed to the previous car parked in that space. Well, today I used the truck to go pick a lawnmower half a mile away, returned home and parked it, and later noticed the same spot hailing from the same area underneath the vehicle. I was running out of daylight but I could see that it had dripped from the front end of the muffler. It's clear and water like so what's going on there? Just moisture?

The drive to work is six miles. The drive today was less than half-a-mile both ways if that information helps. In other words, this is all new and I haven't checked it after a true thorough warm up. Any preliminary guesses, and the muffler does show some rust on both ends also.

Thanks in advance

 

Normal. Water is a normal by-product of combustion. An exhaust system that is not fully warmed up will allow condensation to form which then drips out the factory drain holes in the muffler.

 

Yep, engine/exhaust not fully warmed up means lots of water and vapor in the exhaust system. It's one reason the old retired duffers who only drive a half mile to the coffee shop every day go through mufflers like candy.

 

Thank you. That might explain why the two lower ends of the muffler are the most rusted.

 

Thank you,sir. This also explains why I noticed it after two short trips.
By the way, when does one replace a muffler? Like I just mentioned to the previous poster, it's showing some rust on the bottom ends.

 

Well if it falls off, it's getting close. Depends, some people wait till it's dragging on the ground, noise ordinance citations issued etc.